Question: How to reformat in XP?

[Knight-Dragon]

My XP OS hangs very often nowadays - I think it's some hardware fault (mobo or HD). But I want to try a reformat and reinstall first...

So, how do I go about a clean reformat of HD and new install of XP? I tried using the installation CD, but ended up just reinstalling XP...

PS Also, for new mobos in the mkt, they've something called SATA (in connection with hard disks). Anyone knows what's this?

 

[DiamondzAndGunz]

SATA - Serial ATA. It's a different type of connection from the HD to the mobo. Instead of those long ribbons, they're thinner cables. Don't really have time to explain much more, but a quick google yields this site -
http://www.serialata.org
I would go with the SATA, but only if you're willing to get a new HD that supports it.

 

[Thrawn]

I did a while ago by making a boot disk on a floppy. I found a file that let me create one, put it in, reset the comp, and typed format c: from there. Then you can put the xp setup disk in, and the boot disk tells you which directory to navigate to on the cd when the pc boots up.

I've got no idea where I found the file though.

 

[Chieftess]

Windows can let you create a bootdisk. I think typing in /format a: \s also makes a boot disk (years ago atleast).

 

[kcwong]

- XP installation includes partitioning/formating.
- The XP installation disc is a boot disc. Boot up with it and select the option called "command prompt" or something similar. It will give you a command prompt with some special functions (type HELP) to help saving your computer.

 

[ainwood]

YOu may need to change the boot order in the bios to boot from the CD first. When booting from the CD, I think you are given the option to reinstall or repair, and I think one of the sub-options then gives you the options to muck around with partitions etc.

 

[Jeratain]

Ask Espy my friend. He will give you a more thorough answer than you need

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Well, I'd reformat and install a new OS. Using the boot-up fr CDROM option... So easy... IIRC, my last reformat (in the days of format c: ) was much more painful, with needing to have a boot disk, some .exe ms-dos files, a file to connect the cd-rom drive and what not. So easy now... I shld do it more often.

 

[raen]

You just need to put the Windows XP CD, erase the partition and create it again, then in the instalation its asked to you to format the hard disk.

But there is another way (at least I tryed this in windows 2000), you choose recovery console and then in that prompt you execute format c:, and its done